Hello everyone, as always, thank you for the wonderful comments and for spending your precious time reading this story. I will try to update more often. I apologize for being late at times, these chapters take some time to write as most are over 10,000 words. Thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful start to your week!
Also, I hope this chapter gives you tiny clues to some of the questions you all have been asking;)
"Happy Monday," The new bus driver had given the girl who was the first to enter his bus a small smile, which she ignored as she headed to the backseat of the bus. Her hoodie, a new addition to her uniform, she had pulled over her head, covering her face as she slowed her steps to her favorite seat. The raindrops gently tapped at the window, warning the city of the heavy rain expected. Monday was doomed to be a gloomy day for most, including the girl sitting in the empty bus driving across her neighborhood that wasn't even fully awake yet. Her eyes following the water drops on the window; for her, today was no different than any other Monday. Or it should have been no different than any other Monday, if not for the crazy weekend she has had. What was happening to her quiet life, where she cared about nothing, was slowly turning upside down with emotions she wasn't conscious enough to acknowledge. It was easier to convince herself she didn't care, and none of it mattered, and to move on but her mind worked against her at times. Even in her morning shower; it hadn't failed to remind her of the kiss she had witnessed. The warm water she changed to cold, even that was useless and had failed to shift her focus away.
She should be happy for him. In fact, not just happy but excited that he finally got what he wanted. As a friend, she should be celebrating it with him. Isn't that what friends do? She had spent the long drive to the train station contemplating what friends do. She never had a friend like Jihoo to know what she should be feeling. What do friends do? Was she really his friend if she wasn't even remotely happy about what she saw? Was she a bad friend for not being excited about what that means? Why these questions had clouded everything else away from her mind, that should have been what she should have worried about and not on what had been eating her since she witnessed it.
She has to be happy for him. She concluded as she entered the train that will take her to the other side of town. As his friend or colleague or whatever they were, she had to be happy for him for getting the girl he wanted. It was what he wanted, and friends should be happy when their friends get something they want. Isn't that what friends do? What he wanted was a gorgeous, kind, and one-of-a-kind girl whom even Jandi had admired based on just the things she had heard about her. Of course, the amazing Jihoo would want somebody that was just as amazing as he was. Her thoughts shifted to that as Jandi recalled all the amazing looks of Seohyun she had seen so far. The expensive dresses and jewelry she was always decorated in, that was something Jandi couldn't even think about or understand. Just her face and smile, even that was too beautiful enough for only somebody like Jihoo being the one that deserves her.
The one-of-a-kind Jihoo discovered somebody like that. She should be happy to have witnessed him get what he wanted before their friendship ended once she was done with that school. With the limited access she had to his life, Jandi reminded herself to be glad she had even met and got to know him. After she leaves this school, it will be on the big screen where she will see and hear about him. Once he finishes college and joins the workforce, she can't wait to hear about everything he will do with Seohyun by his side. That was the type of woman who needed to be by his side when he eventually became the country's leader. Every citizen was going to fall in love with Seohyun so easily. One white suit and some photos of her with children and the elderly would get him all the votes he would need, and Jandi, if alive by then, would be on the other side of the world watching him on the news. That was the direction of their lives. His was headed to the seat of the most powerful man in the country while hers was headed to the dark pits she had always excited in.
"Huh,' she sighed, a tight realization as she walked past the gates and started her slow walk up the pavement that leads to her building. This school, this cursed school she had wasted three years in, she was having a hard time accepting it wasn't a complete failure as she had met somebody like Jihoo and gotten some nice moments out of her work with him. The uniform she had vowed to burn once she was done, She had covered it with the black hoodie she had on that matched the black leggings covering her legs. That was what protected her body from the cold window of the rain her umbrella was shielding her from. The rain was the appropriate weather for all the things she was processing as she placed everything in her locker and headed to the council office. She took some deep breaths as she prepared herself to see Jihoo. That was a first as she had to even take a second before she opened the door and walked in. It was a first where she had to worry about what to say. Jihoo had been the only person she never had to be careful about saying what she wanted, but now she had something she couldn't share or mention. What she witnessed was meant to be kept to herself unless he brought it up. Would he?
" Good morning," she disrupted his silence as she walked in.
" Good morning." his usual smile was extended her way as he glanced at her from the desktop he was typing on.
" You're early today," titling his head to direct her to the tea he had placed by the shelf he asked.
" wanted to avoid the traffic because of the rain." Her hands were sent to the tea. She picked up the cup that wasn't that hot, which meant he had been here for a while.
" I know' Jihoo's hand leaving his keyboard; he started his long chat about the traffic and the drive that took longer than it should on his way here. The roads were closed for some construction, he had a lot to complain about as Jandi just stood by the window, sipping her tea and listening to his complaints. He was funny when he was unintentionally complaining about minor things she would never be worried about, but then again, his happy life had little to worry about, so the little things trigger these types of big emotions. It was worrisome how she had started forgetting that he was not like her. His last name she seemed to forget about, it had become such a common thing to think of Jihoo as a friend where his last name didn't matter.
" It was so nice to see you yesterday," Jihoo changed the topic as he sipped from his coffee.
" It was nice to see you too," she replied, turning her eyes to the view of the school garden. The rain pouring down, she had a nice view of the city being cleansed by the pouring raindrops.
" Did you get home on time?" he asked; the question he really wanted to ask was hidden behind his curiosity about what she did after she left the hotel.
"Yes" her response was short because she wanted to avoid talking about yesterday just because she couldn't stop thinking about it. Jihoo, staring at her, was contemplating if he should ask her or play games to find out what had been bothering him since last night. He knew she wouldn't tell him unless he asked. was it his business; he sipped his coffee.
His eyes glued to her face, he zoomed in on her side profile. Her blinking eyes staring out the window, her adorable nose leading to her lips sipping from the brown cup, he enjoyed the view for a minute before he decided to make it his business.
"What did you two do last night?" he asked, sending his hands to start typing. He has to act not bothered or not that curious about it. He gave her a small smile when her eyes turned his way and stayed on him.
"Is he still bothering you?" he knew he could use that as an excuse, and it was the truth. He has always been and is still worried about Junpyo still bullying her. Having seen what she did to his best friend, he shouldn't be that worried, but he didn't know why he was still worried for her.
"What will you do if I say yes," She asked.
" I could make him stop," his response was direct. His hands left the keyboard, and his whole attention turned her way. He was serious about what he said and wanted her to know he would do what he could to stop Junpyo from bothering her. His protective mode she easily triggers, Jihoo was cool with assuming all his worry for her was a result of his friend's bullying he had to shield her from and not anything else. It can't be anything but worry for the girl he had seen his friends bully.
" I told you he is not going to sue the family." Jihoo brought up a topic she had forgotten about for a while. That was the last point of concern she had brought to Jihoo about Junpyo. That was the last thing he knew about the interaction between the two. She doesn't have anything else she should need to talk to Junpyo about.
" Huh" she gave him a soft smile as she was reminded of that mess and added that to the top list of things she had to do today. She must check in with the family; she has caused so much chaos. She trusted Jihoo's words but needed confirmation that she hadn't gotten from Junpyo about the case, which all knew he could win if he decided to take them to court.
" You slapped him and he didn't do anything, remember?" Jihoo tried to jog her memory but her memory didn't recall the one he had witnessed; she was reminded of the slap she had given his friend last night. Unfortunately, this time she was also made aware of how he takes her slap just standing there. With what Jihoo said, her consistently pessimistic mind was easy to figure out if he was collecting her attacks so he could sue her. If he has cameras at his home she is screwed.
" He seriously doesn't care about anything." Jihoo's words were taken seriously as Jandi stored them in her memory. The Junpyo she dealt with didn't seem like the one Jihoo talked about. The one annoying her was very aware of things and had a great memory.
"Did he seem like he cares about anything when you talked to him yesterday?" he returned the topic back to what he was curious about.
" He cares about you" She chose to go that way.
" He defends you every chance he gets," she added, seeing the smile on his face.
" He cares about Seohyun too" She was being very strategic as she brought up the name that slowly faded his smile away.
"Did he say something about her?" Jihoo asked, providing Jandi with an excellent opportunity to fish for more information.
" He said you two had been a thing for years." She chose to stay with the fundamental thing anybody would say about the two.
" It's nice that your friends are that close with her."
"She is friends with all of them" Jihoo corrected her.
"Seems a bit too close with Junpyo," she whispered, hoping he wouldn't read much into what she said and continue the conversation. His smile she noticed was a bit off. She could tell easily how he was bothered by what she said.
" Girls love him," Jihoo in between his weird smiles, responded while returning his focus to the email he was writing.
"It's his arrogance." he forced a smile on both as they recalled the conversation from yesterday.
" I don't know why anybody would like him when you are there?" she softly asked, hoping she could easily dig deep. Jihoo has never been one to shy away from letting her dig in, and she was taking advantage of how comfortable he felt around her to ask anything she wanted.
" he even got you" Jihoo glanced her way as Jandi almost choked on the tea she sipped. Cough cough, she needed some seconds to regulate her body that was trying to save her from the breath she missed.
" You went from slapping him to going on a drive' how much he was bothered by what happened yesterday it was all there for her to take note of but Jandi was too focused on dismissing the nonsense he just said. Her tea was placed down, and her face turned serious as she started talking.
" he had something of mine I wanted back that is all" was her honest response, Jihoo was glad he got that out of her as he sighed in relief to hear what was happening.
" I would rather be skinned alive than spend a minute with him, you know that," she added, giving Jihoo more reassurance to dismiss what happened yesterday as nothing to spend anything longer than a minute about. Why he was bothered by her spending a few hours with his best friend, if he was self-aware he would have spent time wondering why that was such an uncomfortable situation for him.
' I am going to pull that stupid hair out of his head one of these days if he doesn't leave me alone' she had added as both started smiling. Jihoo, laughing at what she said, was being reminded of why this girl was special and he enjoyed having her around. His worry finally had evaporated, he was enjoying her hatred and anger at his friend.
" he annoys you because he can get a reaction out of you." Jihoo, in between his smiles shared an observation she should take seriously.
"You're fun to watch," Jihoo added as Jandi hid her realization behind the cup she brought to her lips. The silence she took to truly take in what he said had extended more than some minutes as Jihoo left his office heading to meet with the school director. It was a quick response to the emergency text he got to report to the office. Jandi leaving his office has focused on her task to finish the paperwork for the senior's boat party scheduled for a week from now. 45 minutes later, she had left her desk to head to her class after the loud bell rang. On cloudy days even the hallways of the school had turned dark thanks to the grand windows broadcasting the rain outside. Sitting at her desk, she was enjoying her book in peace class after class until she heard some murmurs from the students sitting in front of her. Her eyes were still on the words she was reading, she perked her ears to the one in front of her to make out something about their math teacher.
" I don't think he's coming today."
"Really?"
"Do you think it's true?" she made some full sentences which she decided to ignore. These spoiled kids were a waste of time, and her book was more interesting. While the rest of the class started enjoying the empty classroom that was missing their math teacher, Jandi was silently enjoying her book, not worried about anything until the assistant director walked into their class.
"Hello all" the assistant principal followed by the school secretary got everyone's attention. Jandi, not even putting her book down, only sent her eyes their way.
" As you know, your math teacher is not here today. He will not be back for the rest of the week"
" He is on leave," the secretary added.
" Your classes will be turned into study time supervised by , who teaches 9th-grade math." The assistant principal smiled as he sent his hands to his back.
" What happened?" one student shouted as Jandi kept her eyes on the two administrates standing at the front of the class. She really had no idea what was going on. The chat groups, the friend circles, and the school's private social media pages. All of these places she was not part of either by choice or because she was never invited; these were some of the times when it was a loss for her. She was usually the last to know when something happened at this school Most of it not being of interest to her, she never cared anyway.
" We can't answer that until the investigation is done."
"Is she back?" another student asked.
" We ask all of you to leave this situation for us to resolve," the principal commanded. Jandi's attention now a bit more curious; she lowered her book as she sent her whole attention to the two. They didn't say much after that, they just spoke about coverage for the class and their sample exam coming up. They made sure to direct all students to head to the study rooms in the library to Mr. Hwan was waiting to monitor their studies. Jandi hiding her book in between her worksheets and her laptop was the last person to leave the class as she decided to stay behind and follow the line of her laughing and chatting classmates who were heading to the library. Her earphones were placed, and she pressed play on her song as she put her phone back into her uniform sweater pocket.
The song beating at her ears matched well with the raindrops hitting the window she was walking along. The grand hallway, for once, felt something else than relief when she was reminded she had a few weeks left before she was done with this school. This was it. This chapter of her life was coming to an end. The years wasted at this school, it doesn't take much before it leads her to anger as she thinks about it. The window that was distracting her eyes was gone as she turned right at the end of the hallway. She was finally forced to look at her classmates walking ahead of her. All of them seemed to be looking at something as they started pointing.
Her eyes from her classmates had turned to the class they were passing as she witnessed all their laughs and chatting as they looked into the window of the class they were passing. All their whispers she couldn't hear, she followed their gaze to the girl sitting at the back corner of the class. Her long hair covering her face, the girl in the back looked dark as even her classmates, who saw the seniors out the window looking into their class, had glanced her way. Her desk was pushed to the corner, nobody was sitting around the girl. In seconds it was clear that she was the black sheep of the class, but Jandi was more curious about why her classmates were looking at girl. Jandi's examining eyes landed on the girl's fingers poking at her palm which was the only thing visible. Her long hair covering her face hadn't done a good job as Jandi leaned right to see the dark circles under the girls' eyes that were glued to the desk that had nothing, not even a notebook on it. Her shoulder slouched, the girl looked like she was about to wrap herself in half as she sat bent down. Trained to pick on signs, Jandi's mind was quick as it started connecting dots and wondering what the principles were talking about had to do with this girl everybody was looking at.
What happened?"
" All of you leave" the teacher of the class had walked out to warn Jandi's classmates to stop staring into the class and go on about their day.
"She looks haunted" was the first thing she heard as Jandi pulled her earpiece down to hear what was being said.
"I tell you these scholarship kids are freaks," one added as Jandi's eyes immediately shot back to the girl.
" She probably came onto him"
" Why go to such a place with a teacher if you don't?" Jandi's ear stopped taking in what was being said as her attention focused on the girl who had finally looked up. The second the red eyes of the girl filled with tears looked up, that was all Jandi needed. Walking behind all her classmates who walked past the windows, Jandi was the last person looking into the class and the one that had caught the girl not only looking up but her small eyes turning to the window to land right at Jandi.
The pure fear and anguish in the girl's eyes were able to slow down time as the two stared at each other. Jandi's sharp eyes were calmer than her fingers, tightening their grip on her book. Her eyes zeroed in on the girl hadn't failed to note the blood the girl was drawing from her skin, and her fingers were scratching. The image she had seen often, Jandi's blacked-out heart, had felt the tiny sting it was sent as she realized there wasn't much she could do to undo whatever was done to the girl. Three years wasted in this hell hole and it was business as usual. Three years wasted searching for nothing. Not even a single fucking thing had changed, as the things she had sworn to avenge had just claimed another victim. Another victim, another trauma had just become a thing to gossip and laugh about on a casual Monday morning at this school. Three fucking years wasted, and here she was, standing in front of a voiceless soul staring at her with the same look she had seen again and again. With the pain she had witnessed and had dedicated her life to destroy. The realization by itself would have done it, but the look in the girl's eyes; the fear hidden behind the red eyes staring at her, Jandi was reminded of why she was wearing this uniform, to begin with. Every second her eyes stayed studying the panic in the girl's eyes, the rage that lives right under her skin was starting to itch.
She didn't know why, but her lips had extended for a soft smile as she gave the girl a nod.
For anybody who knew Jandi, that was her sign. That was her language and all she had to say.
I see you.
Jandi was gone in second as she went in the opposite direction from her classmates and headed back to her class. Her books thrown into her classroom locker, she quickened her steps to her locker in the gym, where she kept everything she needed hidden. She needs to find out what happened ASAP. Her locker with all her tools, she was sure she could easily sneak into the offices, which she had done so many times, and get a copy of the records and documents. The assistant principal had mentioned how they had a conversation in the morning. Jandi knew where those files were stored for now as she quickened her step down the stairs and headed to her swimming pool locker.
That was her chance. This was the right opportunity to get any of the files and documents before they were erased or destroyed. This school had a record of destroying evidence that simply just disappeared. On her way, she had called the person who needed to be her eyes." I need your help" was all she had to say as Ctrl dropped what he was eating and gave in to her demand. Not even asking questions, he had run upstairs to his studio with just one sentence from her. While she rushed to the gym, he was busy hacking into the security system he already had on file. It took a bit over five minutes for him to have all of it ready to go. The school camera pulled on the screen he turned on, he had all eyes and was busy starting his computer he will need if anything needs to be hacked. His lips hadn't failed to smile when camera 21 started broadcasting and he saw her heading to the gym ahead.
" Should I call Bom?" He asked. He only needed to see her fast walking to know she was angry and anything that could anger her like this might demand a backup.
"No. I will if necessary" she responded whispering to the earphones before she banged open the gym door and disappeared out of his view.
The first thing she did was to make sure to wrap her hair in a tight bun. Her favorite knife she placed on her thigh and the gloves she placed in her pocket was the last thing as she locked her locker back up and headed out of the gym.
"You're clear," Ctrl let her know as he looked around at all angles to make sure nobody was coming her way. The gloves she was putting on, Ctrl was all smiles as he caught her stretching her fingers. No matter how often he sees this girl, it always astonishes him. The elevator ride only lasted a minute, and she was in front of the teacher's office, where she entered after she was given the green light by Ctrl, who made sure nobody was there. Most of the teachers in the classroom there was nobody as she headed to the assistant principal's office at the lack of cameras in the office, she was quick as she sat on the desk after plugging the two flash drives into the computer. Ctrl had trained her well as she used the virus input to access past all the passwords and started looking for recent files. The document she copied to the other flash drive she had attached didn't even take much before she had what she needed, and she left the office.
The elevator was taken back to her locker, she placed everything back except the flash drive that had the files she copied. The knife on her thigh had also stayed as she headed back to her class. Her focused steps, her hands begging for something to hold, were finally silenced when he crossed her arms after plugging the flash into her laptop and started typing. In seconds all files were sent to Ctrl.
"Got it" was all he said as he started working on the ziplock files he needed to open up.
" They are getting better at locking documents," he whispered as Jandi sat back. the only one in her class, her eyes focused on her computer where she expects the zipped folder to open up to files. It took him 7 minutes to open the zipped folder with 4 files. One mp3 and three documents,
Her right hand was the only one in motion as she pulled up the Mp3 file and pressed play; Ctrl had done the same.
" Thank you so much for coming to us" was the first thing both heard as the Mp3 file had today's date at 7:30 a.m.
" If you just tell us what really happened, we will take care of it" came the first few words from the school director, which Jandi recognized.
"Oh God '' Ctrl sighed as he opened up one of the documents as well and read through the complaint document. While he focused on the complaint document, Jandi's quick fingers were typing as she accessed Jihoo's computer and started going through student info files. She searched for the girl's name to have her administration file pulled up. She made sure to copy the girl's file onto the flash drive with all other files important to the case. The voice she was listening to Jandi was multitasking as she was figuring out how many people were in the room while she read the girl's file.
Things she started memorizing before all her attention was taken to what she heard.
Name, Eun.
Age 20.
Born in Seoul.
Full-ride scholarship based on Art competition.
An orphan.
Lives on gov't subsidized housing and support from the city. Which Jandi knew expires when Eun turns 21 in a few months. That was the last thing Jandi took note of before all her attention was pulled to the recording she was listening to.
Even the loud bell ringing wasn't able to pull her away from the dark place she was pulled into with just one sentence she heard.
"If you go to the police they are going to make you provide all the proof" one of the men, who Jandi assumed was a lawyer, had started.
" Which you don't have any"
" All you have is your words"
" I would advise you to settle," he added as Jandi waited to hear anything from the crying and breaking voice of the girl who was the only woman voice in the recording. The girl sitting on the big couch by herself sounded at the 6 suited men. Jandi could only imagine how terrified and scared the girl must have felt to even say anything let alone go against what they were asking her. And all of this a day after what happened to her. To be grilled about it before she even had anybody help her process the gravity of what happened, of course, the school would rush and try to control the situation. The mistake the girl made was to report it to the school and not the police, but Jandi knew the police were just as useless.
" These assholes" Ctrl was the only one speaking as he couldn't believe the same play was being played for god knows how many times now. It was the same. The games being played were the same at the school the whole team had a vendetta against. More than pain it was anger that took Ctrl who had the same exact words said to his sister as he sat next to her on the long white couch surrounded by the luxury-suited soul-less men who paid millions to bury everything by using everything and anything. Unable to control his anger he had snapped the earphones away from his ear after whispering.
" I am out" to Jandi who didn't need him after this anyway. Jandi didn't respond to his words , she was focused on every word that was recorded.
" You only have a few weeks left. Don't ruin your life for something insignificant" Jandi heard the assistant principal's voice as a smirk escaped her lips. She shut her laptop before she lost her mind from the rage that was taking over her. Of course, they would get the girl with no parents and nobody to stand for her in a room and scare her from saying anything by throwing millions at her. There was nothing new to the techniques these people used to silence everybody. It was all smiles as Jandi sat back unable to comprehend how on earth the game was still going on. Minutes later, her laptop placed in her locker as she put the flash drive in her pocket, she decided to head to the cafeteria to find the girl whom she was sure all the students would bother.
Her job had never been to attack, but something was triggered in Jandi, who kept replying the words she heard as the image of the terrified and tear-filled eyes that were staring at her hours ago kept replying. Her tiger-like eyes of hers were hauntingly scary as any boy who saw her had walked out of her way. All the energy she needed to be fueled by the rage burning in every vein of her body, every step she took was faster than at the last as she curved every student laughing and giggling as she sent her hands to her legging pocket. Her gloved hands sent back to help her walk faster, her vision zeroed in on her goal as none of the students in the hallway were even registered. They were mere objects.
In the cafeteria she walked into, she stood by the left entrance she came in as she started looking around every corner. Before she turned to head to the other cafeteria on the first floor, she saw Woobin's minions by the corner. The vending machine they were standing by was dismissed as Jandi focused on the small legs she made hidden in the corners of the wall behind the vending machine, surrounded by the minions.
Her steps towards the corner were as targeted as her eyes that had located her prey. The dark souls that lived hidden behind her walls were ready to seek some of the blood they had been thrusting for as her eyes stayed on the necks of the boys her hands wanted to slice as they begged for her to reach for her knife. It would only take seconds but these weren't the people she would lose herself for. These idiots were not the ones she carried a knife for. Bom's words, the logical side of her mind always reminded her, she knew this wasn't the fight that should go all out for. Every thought in her mind silenced, her scary eyes had one goal as she finished the distance and stood right behind the boys.
" Leave her alone" she whispered as she stood a step away from the boys she scanned from their shoes to their heads. Her right leg she titled was at the perfect angle to land her kicks right at their heads if necessary. Her hands behind her, her right hand was ready to throw a punch while the left was ready to pull the knife if necessary.
" You" the leader was the first to return and the other three had followed him and turned all their attention from the girl they had cornered behind the vending machine to Jandi. Her scary eyes, all couldn't look away from Jandi's petrifying eyes that were focused on them. They had seen this look before but they seemed to have forgotten what would follow it.
" You" the leader added as Jandi sent her eyes away from him to the girl at the corner. Her long hair covering half of her face, the petrified girl was shaking as Jandi focused her attention on the crying eyes.
" I've been looking for you," he said, taking a step and standing in front of Jandi who turned her eyes from the girl, who was instantly worried for Jandi and displaying that on her face. It was cute how she was worried for her, Jandi thought as she turned her eyes to the one standing in front of her. Her calm state he had undermined, even the terrified girl wasn't able to understand how and why Jandi looked so calm and peaceful as her eyes stared right back at his face. His face, which Jandi was imagining a hundred ways to disorganized but she knew that wish of hers wouldn't be answered today.
" I am here," Jandi responded, hiding her smile at him standing tall in front of her, trying to use that as intimidation. How childish, she thought as she remembered his cries when she whipped him with his own belt, which he seemed to have forgotten about.
" Birds of a feather, right" one of the ones behind him spoke as the boys started laughing
" Of course the sluts of the school would protect each other," the other added as Jandi's eye ignored the words going in one ear and out the other and focused her attention on the girl. Her shaking hands, the girl brought them to wipe the salty tears rolling down her face.
" Please," the girl crying was begging not for her sake but for Jandi as she pleaded with her almost gone voice.
"Please what pretty girl" one of the boys had turned around as he placed his arms around the shoulder of the girl who was already shaken enough and looked physically scared at his arm placed across her shoulder.
"Don't touch her" Jandi was being nice as she asked. She had heard people say to ask first, and she was asking nicely. If they don't listen, would it be her fault to punish them for it?
" or what?".
" You pretty, sucks you only have eyes for teachers," The one holding the girl added as the girl tried to move her ears, he was whispering at, away from him and lowered her head down.
"Don't touch her," Jandi warned again as she tried using her words.
" This bitch, who do you think ?" The leader in front had really forgotten what she could do or was trusting she wouldn't do anything in the cafeteria in front of witnesses as he sent his hands to her shoulder. Before his sentence was finished and before his hands even touched her shoulder, Jandi's right hand had landed on his stomach, pushing everything he ate for lunch up as she sent him bending down while holding the wall behind him. Most always underestimate her punch considering how small she was, but the force behind her punches was nothing to mess with as he was learning about today. Her eyes, not even turning to see what she had done, landed on the one with his arms around the girl.
" Ommo the students in the cafeteria, the ones seated around the area, had turned to look at what was happening as they made the leader standing by the wall. Jandi wanted to create a distraction so the focus was lifted from the poor girl who she wanted to hide away from the world, and she had just accomplished that. She had thought that would be enough, and it was as she decided to teach the boy another lesson in front of everybody and make that the talk of the town if they don't stand down.
The boy she had given two warnings, Jandi had only to take a step towards him before he quickly moved his arm away and took multiple steps away from Jandi's scary body coming his way. The scary gaze was enough to terrify anybody, let alone the boys who knew what happens when this girl goes crazy. Her calm state just as terrifying, all were just staring at her as they walked away.
" Junpyo said not to touch her, '' one of the boys warned the leader standing up. Leaning to his ears, he had whispered it only to him. The name mentioned carried more weight than anybody could imagine, as it only needed to be mentioned once for the boys to back off. The boys coming to his aid, all turned their focus to Jandi who was now standing in front of the shaking girl behind her, who she was intentionally hiding away. The girl, still in her petrified state, had changed her cloudy eyes to the back of the girl standing before her. Her terrified eyes stared at Jandi's hair as she lowered her eyes to Jandi's arm held behind her. The three rings on her fingers on her right hand; the girl didn't know they were put on in preparation to break bones and punch teeth out mouths Jandi was prepared to fill with blood. Her eyes lowered to the legging-covered and booted legs of Jandi before she returned up to the mysterious girl who Eun was convinced was some kind of otherworldly figure sent to protect her like the stories her mother used to read for her.
Her black hoodie and black leggings were the main things covering her body; she was dressed in all black just like the stories. Jandi was getting a new admirer who didn't even know how to accept what was happening before her. For the girl who had nobody, not even a single friend, this felt unreal. Her eyes, religiously looking at the back of Jandi finally changed to the boys who started walking away. She had missed how the two boys had backed away thanks to the single warning they were given by the one who was not going to be happy; they even dared to think about attacking Jandi.
" Are you okay?" Jandi asked after turning around to face the girl.
" I am"
" I am okay," the girl replied while her shaking hands cleaned her face.
" Come with me" was all Jandi said as she bent down and grabbed the girl's lunch bag. The girl had done as asked as she followed Jandi behind. With her timid moves, she was taking slow steps behind Jandi. All eyes scanning the girl behind her, Jandi glanced back to notice the girl hiding away from all the eyes looking at her. Why did she have to be the one to bend down and hide away from these monsters? Jandi was bothered by that as she switched sides and started walking on the right side, blocking any view of the girl.
Jandi's gentle hands had pulled at the girl to walk next to her so she could hide her from most. The girl as pulled, had fastened her steps as she started walking next to Jandi. As Jandi placed her hoodie on to cover her face, Eun had brushed her hair away to look at Jandi next to her, who was walking with a type of confidence Eun had never seen. With her black hoodie on and every step she took, she looked like some kind of badass fighter ready to ruin someone's day as the only question Eun was asking was, what on earth was going on? It was the only thing going through her mind as she couldn't assume that there was any scholarship student or even any student who walked with such confidence after hitting Woobin's minions. They were the minions of F4. Touching them was messing with the F4 boys. The minions Eun had heard enough about to never even look in their direction, she could only imagine what the F4 boys who ordered them around were going to do now. She had always kept herself to her class and the art studio where she spent most of her time in, to avoid has been why Jandi wasn't familiar with her but had heard her name before. Jandi couldn't remember just from where.
The cafeteria they left, the girl sighed in big relief as they entered the empty hall that would lead them away from most of the students
" Why did you do that?" the girl following Jandi down the stairs asked. Jandi didn't respond and just continued walking.
"They are going to come for you" The girl added but didn't get anything. The only reaction she got from the girl walking ahead of her was when she almost lost her step and turned around to hold her.
" Watch your steps" Jandi whispered as her eyes only stayed on the girl for a second.
On their silent walk, Jandi led them out of the building and headed to the old gym for one of her hideouts on the roof. It took longer than it should have as Jandi had to slow down because of the slow step the girl behind her was taking. Eun' without asking any questions had followed Jandi to the room. She had never even been to this building let alone the roof, she followed Jandi walking to the corner. The old desks and table she had brought up, had a nice spot to hide away and read her books.
'Do you hide here?' Eun jogging to catch up with Jandi, asked
" I am in the art studio" She shared her hiding spot with a small smile. Jandi's eyes turned her way, Eun kept her smile on as she tried brushing her flying hair away from her face. Her hands sent to her hair, she tied it up and tucked it in. The next time Jandi turned her way, Eun's beautiful face was in full view. Leaving the girl stunned for the third time in a span of minutes asked to sit as she pulled out Eun's lunch from the bag she had grabbed.
"Eat' Jandi ordered as she opened the box and started laying out the food. The girl standing steps away from the table, her eyes turned to Jandi as she stood frozen.
How overwhelmed she was by what was happening was clear as Jandi looked up at the frozen girl whose eyes had instantly filled with tears that started rolling down. Her hands unpacking the utensils were forced to pause as she was forced not to look away from the crying eyes staring at her like a lost puppy she had rescued. There was something about the crying eyes of Eun that was pulling at some of the darkness that lives buried inside Jandi.
The girl who looked like she had seconds before she broke down, Jandi didn't know what to do to make her feel better or to stop the pinching at her heart.
"You're okay," Jandi whispered before she was quickly silenced as the girl took the two steps between them and wrapped her shaking arms around her.
The petrified body that was holding onto her for dear life, Jandi's startled eyes lowered their view to the head resting on her shoulder. The tears she couldn't see; she could only hear the cries that were enough to silence her body that was triggered by the touch. The arms tightly holding onto her, the small body clinging to her was crying as it begged for a reaction from her heart that was only allowed some second to feel something before it was ordered to shut down to keep her sanity. Her right hand, which slowly left the spoon in its grip on the table, was pulled up and landed on the back of the girl holding her. Right when Jandi's right hand softly landed on the girl's back, the arms around Jandi tightened their grip as Eun's cries became louder.
Her tired body had given up the fight as Eun fell down, only to be caught by Jandi. Her arms wrapped in her savior's arms, Eun was letting out all the tears she had held onto to keep herself from losing her mind.
One
Two
Three minutes went on as she cried her heart out while held by the only human that had extended a helping hand her way and had immediately become her safe haven. Her tiny arms tightly wrapped around Jandi, She didn't let go as they spent half of the lunch sitting there, letting her cries fill in the silence of the empty rooftop covered by the dark clouds warning the rain to come in the afternoon. Jandi's caged heart, which had shut down minutes ago, was like a robot as she sat there, unable to process any pain hearing somebody cry their heart out would cause. It was one of her first lessons and something she had to do to survive. She only was allowed a handful of emotions, and this wasn't one of them
Her puffy eyes unable to even clearly see, Eun had used all of the napkin handed to her as she tried to empty her stuffy nose that was completely blocked. The migraines from all the crying, none of the pain her physical body was feeling, were processed as she sat there frozen. Her eyes were glued to the ground they were seated on. She had once or twice turned to the girl sitting next to her to find Jandi's blank face staring into the distance.
" Sorry," always the apologetic one, Eun whispered with her almost gone voice.
" I am sorry to ruin your day," she added, shaking hands fighting each other. The girl sitting next to her didn't say anything. There was nothing to say as Jandi was barely there, as every emotion was removed and shut down to protect her from feeling anything other than anger. Feeling pain wasn't an option. She can't feel any type of pain. Even if she did, she can't show it. All her pain was caged away and was only felt to fuel the rage she had vowed to use to punish those she was living for. Jandi's silence Eun found a bit comforting; only Eun was talking as they headed back to their building after an hour and lunch. Jandi's number she had added to her phone. Eun had done as she was asked, to wait for Jandi by the gate after school. For what, she didn't know why. She didn't care why, either. She had also followed Jandi to her locker, where Jandi grabbed some items from the locker before she led them to the bathroom at the corner.
Jandi, pulling the Aquaphor in her hands, placed it on the counter holding the sink.
" Put this in your hand," she commanded as her eyes were sent to Eun's hands, which her fingers had been scratching and leaving marks on. Eun was quiet as she started washing her hands.
"If anybody says anything,' Jandi turned to the girl washing her hands.
" If anybody does anything,' Jandi added, stepping between them and adjusting the girl's thin sweater. With her hands under the running water, Eun's innocent eyes stared back at Jandi. Her gentle hands adjusted the dress shirt eun on,
" Let me know," she added, giving Eun a small smile which the latter responded with a big smile as her eyes were filled with tears. Her breaking heart was attacked again as Jandi's hands came to her face, whipping her eyes.
" I'll handle it," Jandi commanded as the girl, shaking her head to accept what she was told, tried to hold her tears in.
" Don't even respond to them," she added, using the sleeves of her hoodie to wipe Eun's tears away.
" Okay," Eun responded as she used her wet hands to clean her face and lowered to the warm water. Her face was cleaned, and she dried her hands before putting the Aquaphor she was handed all over her hands. She had put some on her nose and around her eyes as commanded. The small bottle was returned to Jandi, who placed it in her hoodie pocket.
" Here." Pulling on the reading glasses, she handed it to Eun, which Eun accepted with no response and put on. It was a great way to hide her puffy and red eyes.
"Ready?" Jandi asked as she started her walk to the door.
" Yeah,' Eun responded as they walked out to the hallway that would join the main hallway filled with students heading to their classes.
Eun's lowered head and bent down posture, Jandi hated to see it but knew why as she left the girl walking next to her alone as they started walking across the hallway. It was clear to Eun was avoiding any eyes that glanced their way. Nobody asked where they were headed. Eun steps were slow as Jandi was leading the way. Eun, behind her, was still scared to be stared at by the students as they got the Eun classes. Jandi had made sure to escort her to her class before she left to meet her after class and text her if anybody dared to do anything.
Her hands were sent to her pocket; Jandi had only one thing on her mind as she headed to the elevator. She needs to find the personal information of the math teacher she would love to chat with. If not her, she had enough oppas who would love to have a man-to-man conversation with him. Starting with Bom, who she knew would be ready to eliminate the worthless pig from existence with a single text from her if need be. The men around her would beg to have the chance to have an hour with the man Jandi couldn't wait to get her hands on. Her team, who had vowed to dedicate every breath to hunt down men like him, she knew she had enough people behind her to cause enough chaos and ruin this school once and for all. A smile escaped her when she thought about what Bom would do once he was informed of this. That was all she had in her mind as she headed to the elevator she pressed.
Her eyes didn't have any energy left to even react to his presence as the elevator doors opened up to showcase Junpyo standing at the corner. His black outfit wasn't something new but his look was. Jandi, who had other things to worry about, she ignored it all as she couldn't even waste a second investigating why he looked different.
" huh," she sighed, sending both hands to her pocket. She needed to stay calm. She warned herself as she got in and stood in the middle. Her hoodie raised up; she tried hiding away from his dark eyes looking at her. In the silence in the small glass elevator, both were instantly aware of the tension and the lack of words. His silence she had always claimed to want; it took only a second to be in an enclosed space with a silent Junpyo for her already angry mind to be bothered by it. Her face, cuddled by the black hoodie, looked darker than ever as her fiery eyes stared at his reflection on the door before her. Standing with his back against the wall, Junpyo quickly picked on the rage-filled gaze in her eyes even through the not-so-clear reflection. He wouldn't expect anything less than anger on her face when she saw him, let alone when she was forced to be in such a small space with him.
She had turned to look at him once before she walked out of the elevator that opened up. Her quick march to get away from him, Jandi quickened her steps once she turned the corner and headed to the council office. Her mind trying to shake off the interaction she just had, but she wasn't prepared for an even more shocking appearance as she turned the corner to run into Seohyun.
" I was looking for you?"
" Surprised to see me," Seohyun asked as she took Jandi's startled eyes as her being surprised.
" Here, this is for you," Seohyun handed Jandi a white envelope.
" I have dinner on Wednesday with friends and family; I would love for you to join."
" I am not.
" Jihoo said to invite you personally when I asked him to bring you," Seohyun explained why she was the one to hand Jandi the invitation.
" I just talked to him." Seoohyun pointed at the council office in the next corner.
" I came to talk to him but also wanted to visit this school," She added, giving Jandi more context as to why she was here.
" It hasn't changed much since I left." Jandi quickly was reminded that Seohyun was a student at this school a few years back. She was only four years ahead of them.
" So many memories." She returned her smiling lips back to Jandi.
" Are you going to join us?" she asked, glancing at the invitation in Jandi's hand.
" I really want you to be there." Seohyun's soft hands moved and cuddled Jandi's hands as her beautiful eyes tried to convince Jandi to say yes. Not only did she feel soft, she smelt just as good as Jandi got her first test of the luxurious fragrance of Seohyun's perfume.
" It would mean a lot," she added as she pulled out her phone and handed it to Jandi.
" Can I have your number? It will make getting hold of you easy." Her big smile was where Jandi was lost as she slowly took the phone and entered her number. It was easy to figure out how Seohyun gets away with getting what she needs from people. It was her smile and beautiful face that disarms people. Beautiful people always have that advantage; getting people to give them what they want takes a small smile.
" You'll come, right?" Placing her phone in her coat pocket, Seohyun asked. She lowered her head to look at Jandi's eyes and extended her smile.
" Junpyo will be there, but he won't bother you, I swear," she added, hoping to make Jandi feel better about the issue Jihoo had brought up when she asked him to invite Janid. He had claimed Jandi might not have come if Junpyo was there. The puzzled Jandi standing in front hadn't even thought about that as an excuse he could have used.
" I will make sure to talk to him." Seohyun's words were sending Jandi's mind to replay all the playful interactions between the two she witnessed yesterday. Maybe Seohyun is touchy with everybody, Jandi asked when Seohyun's hand rested on her shoulder.
" I am so happy they have somebody like you around them." Seohyun's words, for some apparent reason, sounded like a compliment but Jandi wasn't sure why it was being said to her. She was actually more curious about what Seohyun meant by somebody like you.
"Why?" Jandi asked, speaking for the first time.
" I mean, you slapped Junpyo."
" You are not scared of them, they don't have that many people that tell them No, let alone slap them." Seohyun started explaining why Jandi was being invited and liked as Jandi realized how many of the things that happened in the school had reached Seohyun thanks to Jihoo. How he told Seohyun everything, Jandi's mind quickly pulled the image she couldn't shake away from her memory. Of course, Jihoo would tell the girl he had been obsessed with since childhood and kissed everything about his school life. The fact that he talked about her hadn't surprised her, let alone raise her suspicion about why Jihoo talks so much about her to other people. Seohyun was the only one to ask that question and found the aspect of her answer yesterday. She had never vocalized it but had sat back, listening to Jihoo go on and on about this girl. From her eating habits to her uniform, her obsession with books, her scary-looking eyes, how much she loves the tea he gets her, her attitude... There was nothing Jihoo didn't talk about as Seohyun realized who had stolen his attention from her for the first time since she knew him.
" He talks about you a lot," Seoyun concluded.
" he doesn't talk about anybody else like that," she added with a particular look. As much as she hoped for it, Jandi was able to pick up on the look and what Seohyun was hinting at.
" He says nice things about everybody and is nice to everybody," Jandi responded dismissing whatever nonsense Seohyun was trying to convince her of.
" I have known Jihoo since he was 6," Seohyun, moving closer, whispered.
" I can tell when he likes people' she added. Luckily Jandi was focused on a completely different topic to be worried about, reading between the lines and figuring out what Seohyun was trying to tell her. Even if she did, she would have dismissed it as nonsense. It hasn't even been 24 hours since she saw Jihoo kissing Seohyun for anybody to question who he likes. It was beyond clear and has been clear since he was a kid. Even if he didn't for that long, on what planet would Jiho choose Jandi over this princess? Even Jandi wasn't ridiculous enough with her imagination like that. Even the fact that he considers her a friend has been a great accomplishment that Jandi still can't believe had happened. Because he was nice to her, enjoyed her company, and made her feel welcome and safe around him, Jandi had a hard time accepting that he really was just a nice person who wanted to be her friend, as reality.
"Can you?" Jandi asked, sending her hands to her back. The focused look in her eyes had left Seohyun startled. How does a person who has known him since he was six miss how he was obsessed with her? How she was intentionally oblivious to it all was annoying Jandi. Even the strangers knew about it, so it was ridiculous to see the games Seohyun played around Jihoo, whom she had in the palm of her hand. Why it was irritating Jandi? Why she was bothered by it, for Jihoo's sake? There were a lot of red flags that should have been waved to warn her about where she was headed if she continued being this concerned for Jihoo and what he does with his life.
" It's so obvious to most," Jandi added, leaving Seohyun even more startled as the latter started smiling.
" You're very bold"
" Playing games with people is not nice" Jandi's words were sharp as a soft fake smile accompanied them. Seohyun chose to just look at Jandi for a few seconds before she asked her question, which ended the topic.
" Have you ever been in love with somebody?' Seohyun asked, crossing her arms and zooming her eyes on Jandi. Jandi's empty eyes staring back at her, Seohyun found her answer in the silence.
"When you soon do, you will find the answer to your own question then" Seohyn's smile was more filled with empathy and warmth as she extended it to Jandi, who didn't seem to understand what she was saying. These young kids, she was worried about their first heartbreaks ahead of them as Seohyun just smiled it all now, she was more concerned for the boys she knew very well. The ones she helped raise as a big sister, she was worried for all but especially for Jihoo and Junpyo, who she was close with. She was well aware they wouldn't be able to handle liking somebody enough to change their ways, let alone deal with heartbreak. For now, her empathy was heavier for Jihoo, whose heart she was breaking herself. His first heartbreak, it was a necessary step he had to go through to learn the value of fighting for the one he likes. The backseat he takes in his own life, the universe had chosen Seohyun to be his lesson if he was smart enough to learn from his first heartbreak and not make the same one twice
"I will see you tomorrow?" Sseohyun asked with a soft smile.
'Sure' Jandi responded, she was ready for this conversation to end.
"Do you know where I can find Junpyo"
" I want to say Hi to him before I leave," Seohyun added.
"I don't" Jandi's response was cut short.
"Oh, there he is!" Seohyun forced Jandi's eye to turn behind her and make out the man walking their way.
" Where have you been, I have been looking for you"
" I am here," his raspy voice was raised to reach them across the hallway. Jandi, who was questioning why he was even in the elevator that led to this side of the building got her answer when Seohyun said she had been the one to text him. Probably wanted to meet both boys in Jhoo's office, Jandi assumed.
" Where were you?" Seohyun asked.
"'Eating' he lied as he sent both his hands to his pocket.
" I was just inviting her to dinner," She said as she saw Junpyo's eyes glancing at Jandi next to her.
" I am so excited to have everybody there"
"Why am I here?" Junpyo asked not even remotely looking interested in the information she shared with him.
" Oh, I just wanted to see you since I was on campus"
" Do you want to walk me to my car?' she asked, which Junpyo didn't respond to. He had no option, he was going to do it whether he liked it or not.
" I will see you tomorrow then" Seohyun turned around and gave Jandi a small smile before she walked to Junpyo.
Although her focus was on what she had to do, Jandi stood there looking at the two people walking away. Seohyun, covered by the cream coat and the purse in her hands, Junpyo with the black sweater and jeans, had slowed his steps to match with the slow steps Sephyun was taking, Jandi's eyes stayed on the two walking away. The smiling face of Seohyun, when she started laughing Jandi switched to Junpyo, who had something to make her smile. Jandi wasn't sure why she was forced to zoom in on his small smile, which was visible thanks to his hair that was tied away from his face for once. Whatever they were smiling about seemed so genuine as Seohyun's right hand landed a slap on his shoulder while they continued smiling. Right at the corner, before they turned left and disappeared out of her view, Junpyo's eyes had turned around her way. His eyes had stayed on her until he dispersed the corner they turned.
She had hoped for that to be the last time she saw him but she had run into him after grabbing the teacher's personal information from the computers she had learned how to hack in Jihoo's office. The file added to her flashdrive, she was on her way back to her class when she ran into him in the hallway. His hands in his jeans pocket, he was walking her way from the other side.
In the empty hallway they were in, Jandi's rage-filled eyes had forgotten about the rule she had put in place since last night to avoid looking at him as they started with the black boots he had on that went really well with his jeans. The white t-shirt he had underneath his black sweater, was a nice touch as it had made the simple outfit chic enough. But that wasn't the highlight, it was his hair that was tied behind his ears. With every step she took, his clear face was becoming visible in full view for her to examine. He was doing just the same, and his eyes hadn't left her since he saw her coming his way. Unlike her, his eyes were never warned about not looking at her. In opposition, that was all that his eyes wanted to do. The words she rarely used, he could read it off her body coming his way as he was confused as to why she looked this enraged. Not just furious but beyond focused like she had something important she needed to do. Even her eyes scanning him didn't look like they were conscious of what they were doing. Her mind was somewhere else as only her brown eyes stayed on him.
A few steps from him, her eyes finally looked away as his tall figure became crystal clear and close enough for her to feel the dark air that was always around him. Her eyes sent to the floor, she chose to make sure she moved closer to the wall to create as much separation from him when she walked past him. The smirk that escaped his lips, Junpyo, who was choosing to stay silent, was triggered by something that had been bothering him every time they interacted. It was annoying how she acted like he would do anything to her, walking away from him, acting disgusted to his touch... she wasn't the only one who hated being close to each other. Junpyo's body had always asked for an escape whenever the suffocating air surrounded him with every inch she moved closer into his personal space.
The air tightened whenever she was three or fewer steps away from him, it had gotten worse as her eyes had lifted up and stared deep into his dark eyes. He wasn't hiding away today. One close look, and both were sent back to what happened last night.
Her handprint plastered on his face, Junpyo covered in disbelief had just stared back at Jandi, whose right hand had only left his face seconds ago. Her chest going up and down to keep up with the high demand for oxygen to calm her body that was ready to teach him a lesson. She chose just to use her words.
" Fuck you" she shouted following her slap.
"Do I have to pay for that?" he was quick with his response as he smirked. Jandi's right hand that was coming back for another slap was learning a lesson as she was getting her first insight into who she was dealing with as his left hand was quick enough to grab a hold of her right hand and hold it midair, inches away from his cheek she was aiming for. Her hand she tried to free, he tightened his grip around her wrist as he pulled her closer. His strength she didn't expect, She was startled for a second as her body landed against his chest.
"Why can't you just answer my questions" he whispered as he slowly started letting go of her hand.
"It would just be easier if you just told me," he added, the pain on his face wasn't even fully processed as he was only focused on figuring out why she was so enraged by what he was saying or why she looked so lost. Even when her right hand had landed on his cold face, making her the only woman to have slapped him on two occasions, all he wanted to do was take it all in if it would take that to get to know the person she hid behind such pure anger. Biting his tongue, he had swallowed the pain she had landed on his face as he chose to stay calm. One of them had to. With the volatile personalities they shared, he knew it was only going to cause more mess if he let his emotions run wild. He can't afford to do that, not now or ever. He has spent most of his life medicated, so he wouldn't do that. Nobody could handle him when his emotions took over. Not even his mother, who had been the one to make sure he was drugged enough to be whoever she wanted him to be. This tiny stranger, the girl standing in front of him, wouldn't even know what to do if he lost his cool. He had to stay calm to play along with letting her be the one who gets to feel whatever she wanted. He didn't know her that well or was sure why but deep down it felt like she needed a space to release whatever was boiling inside her. What was dangerous was how he was okay with being the one at the receiving end of her rage. If he had stopped now, if he recognized it now and shut it all down; if he had done so, he would have been able to save himself before he started triggering all of it out of her so it was all directed at him and only him. A weird fascination that will take therapists and heartbreaks to fully understand
" I am not somebody you should care about " Jandi, putting her hands behind her and trying to understand, whispered. His curiosity, she knew anger wasn't the way to resolve it. No amount of beating him or slapping him will end his curiosity. She was aware of that.
" and here we are" his right hand sent to his hair, he slowly brushed it behind his ear. Her eyes, her bewildered eyes had followed his hair that was brushed behind his hair as she made out her handprint on the right side of his face. His ghostly white skin that had faint red lines her slender finger left behind, she traced the line down to his bottom lip, he started biting. It wasn't a choice she made as her eyes were forced to notice any movement and landed on his dark lips she saw him moving to catch them at the right moment when his bottom lip was pulled in and bit. Forced to receive some of the sting her eyes looking at him was causing across his face. Her eyes immediately lifted back up to his eyes, it was another mistake as he blinked, opening to his dark eyes that now had a hint of wine-red color that was demanding for her to follow it to the depths of where he wanted to take her.
" Leave me alone" The words her brain had processed to be said hadn't reached her lips as it was all shut down when his raspy voice hit her ears. Why his voice sounded darker and brawny? God knows the answer to that along with the answer to why now was the time her fingers were reminded of how soft his face was to her touch.
"You're staring at me again" Junpyo whispered as he sent his hands to his pocket. He needed his hands to get away from the girl staring at him and the only place to put them was in his pocket where he had items his fingers could fiddle with.
"Huh" he smirked at himself as he took a step back, giving himself space. His hands pulled out he brushed his hair with both hands as he turned around and started walking away from the sofa set they were standing by. He needed some fresh air and that was where he was headed, the tall window left open and letting in the cold breeze of the night.
" Huh," Jandi let out a deep sigh. Nothing to say as she quickly grabbed the bag and started walking away. She can't be here even for another minute.
The words they parted with last night, the two crossing each other in the school hallway had both wanted this to be the last time they saw each other today but the heavens had other plans as they saw each other at the end of the school day.
Standing against his car, Junpyo was waiting for Jihoo who had told him to wait for him before he left, when he noticed her walking out of the building. The conversation he was part of, Yijeong was quick to notice when Junpyo's attention had left him and was on something else. Yijoeng's eyes following Jun Pyo found Jandi walking out of the building.
" I heard she got into some trouble with Woobin's boys. '' Yijeong, smiling at how she looked so uninterested in what was happening around her, shared a piece of information he wasn't sure how important it was to the one standing next to him.
"What?" Junpyo asked as his eyes returned to Yijeong.
" My classmates were saying, they had her pinned in the cafeteria"
"She and another scholarship girl or something" Yijong shared, turning his eyes to Junpyo.
" Why? Did you ask them to?" Yijeong asked not ready for the angry look in Junpyo's eyes to be targeted at him.
"What?"
" Jihoo said you had them do something to her in the swimming pool" Yijeong added.
" I did n" Junpyo moving his body away from the car he was leaning against was going to protest the claim but chose not to. He couldn't.
" Do I look like I would send them to attack her?" Junpyo asked, seriously curious about this one.
" She slapped you so I would understand if you did" Yijong didn't care that much about what he was saying as he pulled up his phone that was buzzing to grab his attention.
"It's not a good look tho." Yijeong, smiling at Woobin's number that he saw kept talking as Junpyo sent his eyes to jandi.
" She a girl" Yijeong added before he picked up the call and started his excited greeting at his friend he was scheduled to visit at his home. Woobin who had been moved from the hospital to his home, Yijeong had been the consistent one to visit him.
Junpyo's eyes were glued to Jandi walking and heading down the long path to the gate, his eyes didn't leave her for all the minute until her figure became almost tiny as she got closer to the gate. His eyes only left her when Jihoo, who walked his way, started talking.
" Did you hear about what happened in the cafeteria? ' Jihoo was immediately able to grab Junpyo's attention.
" Apparently the minions were bothering the girl, and Jandi came to her defense"
" What girl?" Junpyo asked, returning his eyes back to Jandi.
" Do you ever pay any attention to what goes on in this school?" Jihoo asked with disappointment in his voice, but it was ridiculous to fault Junpyo now when he had weeks left before he left the school.
" What girl?" Junpyo asked again.
" One of the scholarship girls in 12 B was assaulted by the math teacher in some sketchy place"
' Apparently he claimed she had to get tutoring to pass her grade, asked her to meet at some cafe, and spiked her dri "Jihoo's voice had turned faint as Junpyo's eyes zoomed in on the figure that walked out the gate. His ever-observant mind was quick to reply the two times she had seen her today and remember the fire burning in her eyes both times.
"Jun Pyo"
" Where are you going?" Jihoo stepped closer to the car Junpyo started walking across and asked but didn't get any answer.
" Junpyo,' he called again but his friend fastening his steps to the driver's side, didn't respond.
" Seohyun told me to re
" I talked to her already" was the last thing Junpyo said as he jumped into the driver seat and instantly started the car that would rush away from the confused Jihoo, who had to glance around to Yijeong to figure out where he was headed.
" He said he has to visit his sister and was only waiting for you" Yijong shared the wrong information as Jihoo returned his eyes to the car rushing to the gate ahead. The second the car drove out the gate, Jihoo turned his attention to the building; he had so many things to do. While his attention was on the files on his desk, his best friend who had just left him had only one thing on his mind as he slowed his speed the moment he made out the only girl walking to the bus station ahead. Her hand typing on her phone was paused, and she looked up when she noticed the car that drove past her stop a distance away. Her hand was still on her phone, only her eyes had moved to the driver-side door that opened and Junpyo who walked out.
"Huh' sighing, she returned her eyes to her phone as she started her walk, ignoring him. She needs to ignore him to avoid slapping him again, if not worse. She needs to avoid him at whatever cost. Unlike her, Junpyo was convinced to have her talk once and for all. walking across his car, he continued his steps until he was a few steps away in front of her. Not even looking up, Jandi tried walking right, his legs followed by taking a step right. He had done the same when she tried his left side.
" Huh," she sighed closing her eyes. She needed a second to remind herself to calm down. Her eyes that opened started at his boots before she looked up.
"Did they do anything to you?" was his first question as she shut her phone and placed it in her pocket. What nonsense of a question coming from the one who had no problem using the same people to attack her.
" Move," she asked nicely as she tried to avoid his eyes. She was ordered not to look at his eyes that had a way of manipulating her actions. She focused on his body blocking her way, which she could kick out of her view if she had to.
" Did they ?" he asked, taking another step and closing the gap between them.
" Why are you asking me?" Her eyes that looked up were sharper than usual.
"Aren't they your goons?" she added as she ordered her body not to be triggered by how she could smell his perfume or his exposed face that was in full view, thanks to his hair tied away, when he stepped closer. She hated it all. Not just his proximity but everything. Even breathing the air that smelled like him felt revolting at this moment.
"Move out of my way," she asked, swallowing the curses she was ordered to send his way.
" No," was his response. His response was the first trigger as her eyes stayed on his dark ones that were convincing how much he meant what he said.
" What" his question silenced her words she started.
" Why can't you fuckin answer my question" his voice, which was raised with the irritation he was processing, had been the second trigger of her body that was already ready to spill over the anger she was keeping at bay.
" You want answers," she shouted, pulling her backpack down. Her aggravated hands were quick as they opened the zipper, and she pulled out several papers.
" Here is your fucking answer." Her right hand holding the handful of paper was slammed against his chest, which wasn't ready for the force that landed against it.
" This is what your last name is stamped on." Her wrath-filled eyes looked almost teary with the type of anger he had never seen as they stared into his soul.
" This is who you are," she shouted, pointing at the big school name and logo on the wall. Her enraged hand was pointing at his last name plastered on the wall with the company's logo he would inherit underneath it. Her right hand had the same force as when she pushed the papers against his chest when they came to his shoulder. She was quick as she pushed the paralyzed Junpyo out of her way. Her backpack was not even zipped; she had just grabbed it as she quickly stepped away. She needed to get away before her hands, demanding to grab his hair and land him against the brick wall, got what they wanted. For once, the heavens were on her side as the bus had arrived at the right time, and she quickly started jogging towards it.